Master-slave system



Pofenfed Jone 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATEN oF CE potoffon of 1IInof8'If1is invention iS difecfed to nloster-slove syB- tems and,paftfou18rly, to syStems fof eStoblfshing the position, of fen1otely1oooted gppofotus in accordance With the posftions of neafby app TatI1s.

Badio equipmentS en1ploying tfansmittef and/of feceivef oscillatofs arebeing lltilized fathef extenSively on aifcraft fo cof11Inunicotion andnavi ation puf oses. In Inany of these instanations ft is neceSSary tomount the oscHlatofs in poSitions vvhic11 ofe at soffle diStEnce ffoff1the opefatof-contfolled Selectof SWitch on fhe oontfo1 pane1 of theaifcfaft. These oscillotofs ofe ordinaIfly tunable to any one of ap111fs1ity of d1f ferent ffequencies So that a fnastef-slave systefff isToquifed opefatively to oonnect the tuning oontrol mechaniSm of thetfansInittef and the feceivef oscillatofs With the oontfo1 paneL Spaceand weight considefations on such craft ofe often unuSually Sevefe sothat it iS ff11pefative to 1sd1n tain the numbef of intefconnectingWifes betWeen the contfo1 pane1 and the tllning contfo1 ffech nisIn ofthe oScillafors of al ITlif1inllZff1. Add1tion any, electfica1connectofs asSociated With the cofftro1 panels ffequently Inust be Snlanand hence musf include toTn1inals fo1 as feW WifeS aS pos- Sible.

BelayS have been proposed fof use in the fe fnoteoontfo1 systefffs onaifcfaft to reduce the Size of the eectfica1 conneotofs and the numbefof conductive oonnectionS betWeen the adjustoble cofltfol svvitch andthe contfoned devices. coSt of such al SySteIn vvould ofdinafny be n1ofeexpenSive than iS desiTable due to the nnn1bef of felayS Which Would befeqnifed. ufthefmofe, Since airofaft are subiect to considefable vibf9tion and ffequently nfuSt undefgo fapid ohanges in accelefation aflddecelefation vvffich nay Sefious1y iIflpaif the pfoper opefation ofreloys in Such a fen1ote-contfo1 Systen1, it is eSpecially de Sifable tofeduce the numbef of felalys thefein to a Ininimuln. Heretofore,satsfactoTy Temote cofftfo1 arfangen1entS vvflic11 en1body a. SInalllnufnbef of interconnecting Wifos ond feloyS have nof beez1 avangble.

It is a,n obiect of the pfeSent invention, thefe fofe, to provide a nevvand ifopfoved InasteT- Slave SySteIn vvhich avoids one of fflore of theaboveInentioned disadva11tages and lifnitotions of pfiof S11chSysteII1s.

It is anothef obiect of the invention to pfovide ar feliablefnastef-slalve SyStefn v7hich includes aI n1iniII1uIf1 nuInbef ofconneotfons betWeen vfious poftions thefeof and So utnizes a, minimun1numbef of rela s.

, and 9, slave svvitch each having appfoxin1ately M The different switchpositionS and each including N contacts, Where N is al nunlber greateftha,n fouf but substontiony lesS than 1`f. Tho systefn olso includeSconneotions betWeen coffespondlng ones of the contactS- The fnaStefSWitch and the S19.ve SWitoh afe constfucted With fefefence to eachothef and fn accofdonce vvfth the re1ation vvhefein P is a, nnfnbef'Which does not exceed of1eho1f the nufnbef 1`T, to eStobHsh (o)opefotive fe1ationS betWeen the svvitches thfough o nlaxin1ufff of 2 ofthe afofesoid oon11ections, (b) to estoblish opefative felations betWeenthe sWftcheS through at leaSt one of the N con11ectionS fof any felativeposition of the SWitcheS vvith the exceptlon of only those felativesWitch posftions of Which ooffespondence fS attained, and (c) toeStablish inoperative felations betvveen the SWftches thfough theconneotions for those fe19 tive positionS at Which coffespondence is8ttined 'of a better undefStanding of the 'pfesent in vention. togethefvvith othef and fufthef objeots thefeof, fefefence is had to thefo11owing descfip tion taken in oonnection With the occofnpanying drawing, and ftS Scope Win be pointed out in the appended claimS.

Befeffing now to the drawing, g. 1 is-a Sche nlatic diagfaIn of anlaSter-Slave sySteff1 in ac cofdance With the pfesent invention and'ig. 2'

fs 9. chaft which iS used in explaining the con struction of the Systemi1111Stfated in ,ig. 1,

1,aeferfing now fflofe pafticularly to ,ig. 1 of the dravving, thefe iSinustfated ar lnaSter-slave systen1 in accofdance With the inventionWhioh coInpfiSes al InaStef sWitch 50 and a S18ve Svvitch 60, eachhavfng M dfffefent SWitch posftionS vvhich afe nufnbefed ffon1 1-35,inclusive. A1- fhough it Inay be nnneceSSar in sonoe foflns of theinvention, the preSent en1bodinlent en1ployS a master sWitch ond a S18veSWitoh Which afe constfucted in tvvo pafts. Each ffloSfef SWitch andeach slave SWitch aSo inoludes N con ductive contoctS, Specificany atot1 of seven stationary confctS deSignoted by the fefefenoe chafactefsl, inclusive, Which, if the embodiment of the invefltion i1111Strated,oofrespond fn 7ooot1on to the fespec3fve sWitch posftionS 17 ino13slve.Ao cordingly, the number of stotfonory oontoots 13 fs gfeotef than foufond is substo113137ly less thon fhe nun1bef of switoh poSitions 33.

Te master sWitch 5 is preferably g anu1y opefob7e Svvitch While theslove SWitoh 33 fs prof efobly. although not neoessorfly, o fel1fotoly1o ooted slave svvitoh, the dfive offongonlen3 fof Wch Wn1 be descnbedsubsequently. The m ster svvftoh inoludes at leoSt one nfovoble nfen1befpfefefably a. fotatable disc 3l vvf1fch includes oon duotive andinsulating poftions 33 ood 33, fespectively. In the inustfotedeInbodffnent, tWo dfsos 3l and 3l ofe ooupled fof ooncuffent opef ofionby on conventional nleons suoh os o ooo1- mon drive shaft 32, ShoWndiogfan1fnatfoony by the bfoken-1ine oonstfuotion. The body portions ofthe diScS 37 and 3l oonSist of the oonduc3ive poffions 33, 33. 'I'fleoonngufotion of the ffs1113,3- 111 poftions of the paif of disos 3l ond3l'v117 be descfibed in detan hefeinaf3ef The pefiph efo1 poftionS ofthese diScs afe' odapted 3o engoge the stationary oontaots 7, inc1uSfveWhfle tho disos 3 and 3l afe being oonourfently n1oved 3o one of thethirtyfive diffefent posit1ons.

f1e Slave sWitch 33 vvhich is genefany Siff1i1a1' to the n1aSte1 switch33. includeS a. pafr of unioontfolled fotatable diScs 37 8nd 3 vvf1iohafe n1eohanica17y ooupled thfough al oon11T1on dfive shoft 32conventionony shoWn in bfoken7ine oonstruction. The rotatable disos 3lond 3| are, in tufn, adapted to be driven through a, shoft 33 by odriving nleans Suoh as an eleotfio n1otof 33. The fotatable disos 3f and3l of the slove SWitoh 33 include oonductive poftions 33 and fnsulatingportions 37 vvf1ich are generally oon1- plen1entafy to the ooffeSpondingportions of the n1aster switch, 33. AS pfeviouSly 1nentioned, the sWitoh33 also inoludeS Seven Stationary oon3acts nun1befed 7, incluSive,vvffich are ,Seleotively engaged by the individua1 periphera1 poftionsof the discs 37 and 3| during fotation of the lotter.

I,1e 1T1aStef-slave Systen1 alSo inoludes oonneo tionS betvveenooffesponding ones of the Station ary oontacts of the nlastef SWitch andthe Slave sWitoh. These oonneotions ooII1pfise suitable Signo1tfans1ting nleans such aS conduotfve vvire oonneotionS betWeen thestationofy contacts l-3, inolusive assooiated vvith the fo3atab7e diSo3l and the ooffesponding oontaotS of the Totota ble dIso 3 as we11 asWife oonnections betvveen oon toot 7 of diso 3 and the Simnany numberedoontaot of diSo 3 It Win be fnanifest, hoWevef, thot other Wen-knownequivalent Signa1-transloting Ineans such as fadio transInltters at thef1aSter-SWitch poftion of the systen1 and Tadio rooeivefs at theslave-Svvitoh poftion of the syS ten1 fnay be en1ployed in plaoe of theinustrated solid-Wire oonneotions, and that the conductive Wireoonnections fepresent but one of nunfefous useful Signal-tfanslatinglneons.

T'he nla,Stef-slave SySten1 alSo inoludes IneanS effectivelyinteroonneoting the n1aster svvftoh 33 ond the slave sWitoh 33. Thismeons compriSeS the ground connections fof the Witches. vviTes 73, 73are connected to the oonduotive portions 33, 33 of the disoS 3l and 3thfough conven tfonal brushes 7, 7 and are connected to ,gfoond throogha vvire 72 and a soufoe of potentia7 suoh as al battery 73. fosheS 73,73 oontaot the oon ductive portionS 33, 33 of the dfsos 3l and 3l ondare connected to ground through Wires 73, 73, the Inotor 33, and alrelay vvinding 73. doofping of dynaInic bfaking Tesfstor 73 is oon11ected in Shunf Wlth the notof 33 through o sWftch blode 33 Whfoh isBSsooiated Wfth the re7oy Winding 73 Blade 33 fS orranged to be closedWhen Winding 73 js deenergizeo and opened When the lotter is energfzed.

The xnaStef Svvftoh 33 ond the s7ave svvitoh 33 aro oonstfuoted vifhfeferenoe to each othef Wlth the oonduotive ond the inSuloting poftionS33 ond 33, respectively, of the Inaster sW1tch in oofrespondingfelotionS to the insuloting ond the oonductive portionS 37 9nd 33,respeotively, of the s19.ve sv7itoh. The InaSter sWitch 33 and the slavesvitch 33 ofe oddftionaHy oonstTucted in oocofdonoe vvith the felotionvvflefein P is al nuInber Which doeS not exoeed, but preferobly is 1essthan oneha7f the nuInber 13, to establish (o) operative TelationsbetWeen the oonduotive poftions of the SWitches for the n1otof 33through a nloxinfun1 of 1 of the con neotions nufnbered 7, inolusive,(7)) opefative felations betvveen the oonductive poftionS of thesvvitoheS foI, 3he Inotof 33 through at leost one of the fT conneotlonsfof any fe7ative posftion of the sWitohes Wfth the exception of onlythoSe felative svvitoh positions at Which coffeSpond ence is attained,and (o) to establish inopefotlve reladtionS betWeen the SWitoheS thfoughthe foro going fT conneotions for those positionS at WhiohooffeSpondence is ottained.

,f1e obove-Inentioned relotion iS thefefore on expression fol thenun1bef of coInbinatfons 7f Whioh fnay be pfocufed v,ith 17 things takenof al fnaximum of P a3 a time. n the described SyS- tefn, the thiftyfivesvvitoh positionS ooffespond to the nuInbef M While the seven StationoryoontactS correspond to the tern1 f7. It is to be noted that in thedesign of a InaSter-slave SyS tem at leaSt one of the favctofs M or N 1sknown, it very often being the latter, Since that factof is estabHshedby the fequireInents of the SyStem for a particulaT use. T1e otherfaotorS, thefe foTe, may be determined by substituting the known valuesin the obove equation, The te1Tn 1 in the equation, aS applied to theinStant Sys ten1, enains to the Inaxinlum number of N conduotiveoonnections of WifeS Whioh aTe to be utilized at alny one tiIne to oarrycurrent. ft has been detern1ined expefhnentally and Inathe- Inaticanythat the selected number of Wires P Should 11ot exceed oneho1f of thetotal 1`7 vvifeS a.nd, fof the siInplest desigf1 this num-ber Should belesS than one-half of the nun1ber of Wires f3, Aooordingly, theInaxiInnIn nufnber of the seven vvifes vvhich are to oarry ouTrents atany onn thno sho111d be three for the described SyStem,

S1nce it has been established by the equatfon that a -poSitionInastef-Slave SySteIn With seven oonneotionS betWeen stationory contaotsis fea sible, there reInains the deternlination of the eleotrioalconneotions vvhich are neceSSory Within the nlaStef SWitoh and a7so theslave Svvitch. This fflay be gfeatly faoilitated by the oonS3fuc ton andthe l1Se' of al ohaft of the type i111stroted in g. 2, Whefein thehofizonto1 divisionS ofe equal in nunfbef to the seven oonnectfonsbetWeen the stationary contoots and the vertica1 divisions 3fe equa innuInbef to the thiftyflve SWitch positions, For each of the thiffyf3vepositions, a nlaxin111In of three vvires nlay coffy oufrent of any onetiIne Beginning With posftion 1, vorious ofoss nlarkS aTe inserted inthe dffferent squares to denote the voriouS oon1bin33fons of vvfresvv11ich fnaly be eInployed to ooffy ouffent fof eooh SWftoh poSftion. orexonlple, Wfth the nlaster SWitof1in posftion 1, oonneoting Wffes l, 2,ond 5, os fepre Sented by the oross Inofks, fe selected to oaffy ouffentff necesSary to energize the motor 52 to drfve the Slove sWftoh to 9.posftion of coffespon dence of to posftion numbef 1. connecting Wiresl2, incluSfve, thefefofe oonnot oarfy oufrent of any tiIne When theInaSter swltch fs in ftS oSftlon nun1bef 1 regardlesS of the poSition ofthe slave switch, as has been estobliShed frofn the above Statedequation and the ohofce of wireS wf1ioh afe cffy ouffent- Sffnilaflyfof' posftiof1 2 of the naSter svvitch, only the ooInbination of wireoonnections 2, 5, and 4 Inay cofry ourent whi1e for pos1tion 3 only thecombination of Wires 5-5, inoluSive, Inay oafry ouffent. This chaftingof fhe posSible three-Wire con1binations 1S contlnued fof theTenlafffing sWitoh positfonS 435, inclusive, eoch ooInbinotion beingentfrely dffferent ffoIn any other.

In the pfe1ifninary deSign of tfle fn Ster and Slove switohes, a papeftefnplote Sin1flaf to the afrangenlent illustTated in ig. 1 isparticularly usefu1, Whefein each of the fototable disos is Totaab1yfnounted So thalt the d1Scs nlay be Inoved froIn one posftion to thenext posftion while the dfSposition of the oonduotive and inSulatingporfonS of the switohes are being Tnarked out on the dfSc. fheinSulating portions can then be marked on the disos in penoi1 oS theyofe defermined so fhat they TeSemble the dark penpheral fegions of fhediscs 5l and 5 of E,ig. 1 of the dravving. Thus, Wifh the indioatof ofthe fnaSter SWitoh 5n set of poSftion 1, the pefiphery of the conductivepoftionS 53, 53 of each of the discS 5! and 5f fxi11 engage each of thestationafy contacts f3, inclusive, thereby Inaking a conductiveconnection therewith while the periphera1 portions oontiguouS WithoontactS 2, 5, and 5 Should be nofched or fnolude insulatlng matefiaL asShown in fg. 1 of the dravving. It Wi11 be noted that oint T for thediSc 5! hos no connection extend ing to the Slave switoh whne thecontact oooperating wifh the diSc 5 inoludeS an electrica1 contactWhioh, fo1 the ooInbination in1nlediately under conSidefation, cannot bein cifo11it. Ao cofdingly, insulation is unneoeSSafy on the pefiphefy ofthe diSc 5l near the pofnt While it iS requifed on the diSc 5l at theooTfeSponding poSition. It Should be noted at fhis point that the Slaveswitch 55 interfuptS any oirouit oonnections When in aL position ofoorreSpondence vvith the InaSter svvitoh 5u. consequently, the in-Sulating poftionS of the d1Sos 5l and 5 are in fecipfoca1 TelationShipto the conductive periph eTal portionS, respeotively, of thecorresponding disos 5l and 5l and vfoe vefSa. In vieW of thiS nlutualrelationship, the connguration of the discs on the In astef svvitoheffeotively deterInineS the Shape of the disos of the Slave switch, sothat detailed reference to the design of the latter is unneoessary.

In carrying o11t the next step in the oonStruction, the disos 5 and 5iof svitoh 5 are then moved to posftion 2 and fhe ohart of ig. 2 is againreferfed to. The periphery of the diso 5l Inakes aJ oonduotiveconnectfon vvith contacts 2, 3, and 2 While oontactS 5, 5, and T are notin oirouit. The fnsulating pefiphera1 fegfons of the diSc afe Inarkedaocofdingly. f SiIT1ilaf Inark ing on the diSc 5l to signffy insulationis Inade for oontaot T adiaoent diSo 5l, this being the only oontaotassooiated vvith the lost-Inentioned diSo. he dlSo 5l and 5| fe thenindexed to poSition 3 and the ohoft fs utned o ofn for outlfning thoconduotive ond insulotfng peffphero1 poftfons of the dlsos. Theolorkfog` opefotfon fs oontfnued fof each of the refnainfng SWftohposftfons unt11 a11 the insuloting perfpheral poftfons of the rotofs 5lond 5l hove been nofked of lofd out Be ferring again to the ohort off,fg. 2, ft Win be ob Sefved that of posftfon 8 thefe o cfosS mork fofconnectionnumber thos indfo ting that the latter Inust oafry ouffent. InvfeW of the potteTn Which the periphefy of the dfso 5| ooqufred fof thepreoeding poSitfonS 17, inolusfve, a seoond diso, narnely the dlso 5l,fS fequ1Teo to establfsh operative relations thfough the SWitohes sincea single diSc Will not Sufnce. It hos been deterInined that When thecon1binatfons ofe seected ln the manner inustfated in g. 2, Whefein theofoss InarkS aSSume a diogonal pattern, the preSence of foor onSeoutiveInarks ln o horizonto1 1ine indicates graphicany the need fof o Seoonddiso fof both the Inastef swftch and the Slave SWitch. Thus, froTn theinfoTInatfon deflved in the In nneT explained above, operatfveefnbodffnents of the two Sections of the nlasteT SWftoh 5" may be con-Struoted. The disos 5! and 5f of the Slave swftoh B bear anfnvefSeTeloffonsfffp, ffofn a oonductivity Standpoint, to the coffeSpondinportions of the nloSter Witch 5. In vlew of thfS relation ship, it isrelatively easy to oonstfuct the tWo SectioffS of the slave switch 55.

s11itable fneonS Suoh S fndfoatorS B3, 83 Inay be eInployed inconneotion vvfth the Totafy disos to indicate the positions thereof vfthrespeot to each of the Svvitoh poSftionS. 'The Inaster-Slave SySteInn1ay also inofude 8 contfoHed unft B Which iS responSivefo the opefotionof the drlving Tnofor 54- Controned unft 8f fs connected to and drivenby the Inotor 52 thfou h suitable fneanS Such aS a dfive Shaft 82. 4

considering now the o eration of the systeIn of Pig. 1, it Wi11 beassufned if1itfsLlly that the Slave SWitch 5D rests on position 2 andthat the nlaster switch 5o iS a.djuSted to positlon 1. Since theforegoing two SWitohes afe not in ooffeSponding poSitionS, o oircllit iseStabHShed through the SvvitcheS So that the battery 73 opefates then1otor 54. The current ow is from the battefy T3 thfough the coonectfons22 and 2 fo the brush Tl Which feSts on the conduotfve portion 53 ofdiSc 5, thence to the statfonafy oontact l and connection l to oontaot fof the slave SWitoh 55, and then through the oonductfve poftion 55 ofdiSc 5l, bruSh f5, conneotion T5, the fnotor 52, and the relay winding25 to ground. The ener giZation of relay windlng 75 is effectlve to openthe switch blaoe so, theTeby dfsconnecting the dynamic braking feSfStof25 from the motor cifcuit- Motor 52 thereupon dfives the dfsos 5| and o!of the SWitch s by way of the ShaftS 52 and 53 and alSo opefateSoontroned unit Bl through the shaft 82. It Wi11 be noted that only oneof the seven oonnectfonS betvveen the InaSter and the S1ave svvitch fScaffyfng ourrent of thiS partic111ar fnonlent since the fnsulafingportions on diSc 5 isolate the ofher sfx conneotfons. The n1otof ofdrives Svvitcf15o to position 3 Whereupo oonnections I and 2 corrycurrent. After the Switch 5" has beef indexed to posftfon f, oonneotions l, 2, and 5 are eneTg1zed. vvhen the fotary diScS of the Slavesvvftoh 52 hove been indexed around to poSitfon 1 So that ooffespondenoein position With the master sWftoh 5ll fS attained, oeftain of theins111ating portfons on the pefiphery of disos 5l and 5l inteffupt thef1ow of oufrent to the motof. ThfS deenefgfzes the feloy Wind- 13 hofthe nutnber N, to estobHsh (o) opeTotive re1ations betWeen saidconductive portions of salid SWtohos through 8. n18xiInun1 of P of soidoon 1ectiol18, (b) to estabnsh operative Telations be v tvveen soidconduotive portions of Said Svitches through ot leost one of said Noonnections for ony relotive position of soid sWitohes With the eXoeption of on1y those Telative svvitoh poSitions ot vvhIch correspondencels attained, and (c) to es t8blish inoperotive relations betWeen saidsvvitcheB through Boid connections 1!or those relotive posl tions otWhich oorroSpondence is ottned.

13. L lnoster-Slove systen1 coInprising= a xnanuo11y operable InoSteTsWitoh and 8. Temotely 10- c ted S1ve sWitch ealch hEving M dierentSWitch positions ond eooh inouding 1 T stotlonaTy oon tocts v7heTe T 1so numbor greateT than four but ubStnt1 11y1ess th8n 1; driving means forsaid sove sv71tch; oonneotions betvveen corresponding onos of soidstotionory oontaots; said IIloster SWitch ond soid slave sW1tohbeingconstructed vith Toferenoo to eoch other ond 111 ooooTd noe vvith the=elotion M N(N1 (N2) (N-P+1 14 Whereln P iS o, number Which does notexceed one ho the numbe! N, fo establish (o) opetative re otionB betWeensold sWitches or said driving 11eons through o noxinIuIn of P of saidconnec tions, (o) to estob11sh operonve relot1ons betWeen S8id switchesfor sBid dnving mens through 8t eost one o Soid N connections for anyrelative position of sMd SWitohes With the exception of onl thoserelotive sWitch ositions at which cor- Tespondence is attained, ond (o)to estab11Bh inoperative relBtlons betWeen s id svvitches for saiddTiving nleons through soid connoctions for thooo relotive positions atWhloh oorrespondenoe 18 ottB1ned; and dnven Tneans ooupled to saidddving n1eon for positioning thereby.

NIcEOLAs v. DoTo REFEBENoES cITED T11e fondWing refeTeT es are of tecordin

